Swine Management
Characteristics of swine Pigs are Homeotherms Maintain a constant body temperature Pigs are Monogastrics Pigs have very few sweat glands
Housing Types of houses Outside pen A- frame houses Open front buildings Environmentally regulated buildings
Housing
Housing
Reproduction Natural AI Heat period averages 2 days and occurs every 20-21 days Can synchronize gilts by putting them together and in a pen next to a boar Lock up when in heat (Lordosis)
Reproduction
Reproduction Boar penis is corkscrewed AI rod has to be corkscrewed as well Boar semen cannot be frozen Shipped fresh overnight 2 doses of semen are administered 24 hours after 1st incidence of standing heat 12 hours later Done because pigs are superovulaters
Farrowing Farrowing – the act of parturition Gestation period- 114 days (3X3X3) Put into farrowing crates few days before expected parturition Sow’s can have any number of babies Wean at 21 days Pigs are very susceptible to disease Many farms are total confinment
Farrowing Crates Used to protect the baby pigs from being crushed by the sow Sow is confined in the middle so that she can’t turn around Equipped with feeder and watering device Space on both sides of the sow for babies Use a heat lamp to keep babies warm
Farrowing Crates
Navel Cord Care After birth excess navel cord is removed Leave about 1 inch Treat navel cord with iodine Why? Prevent infection
Navel Cord Care
Clipping needle teeth Born with only eight teeth Fairly long and sharp Can irritate the sow while nursing Can remove these teeth to make more comfortable for the sow We don’t clip
Clipping needle teeth
Tail Docking Pigs are normally in a confined space Chew on others tail Done out of boredom To prevent tail biting and the possibility of infection, tails are docked Dock were tail can barely touch the pigs back
Tail Docking
Injections 3 types of injections Two sites to give an injection Subcutaneous Intramuscular Intravenous Two sites to give an injection Neck Ham
Injections
Injections
Injections
Injections Iron is administered about 24 hours after birth 1 cc of iron Since pigs are in a create and don’t have access to soil, iron- deficiency anemia can occur Some people give a small dose of antibiotic Give the sow penicillin
Ear Notching Most used identification method for baby pigs Removing a portion of the ear The notches grow as the pig grows Permanent identification Litter # and Pig # Litter # - the pigs right ear Pig # - the pigs left eat
Ear Notching Litter # Pig # Number of litter for the whole farm Not for individual sow Pig # Individual number for the baby pig Has nothing to do with the rest of the farm
Ear Notching
Ear Notching
Ear Notching
Castration Removal of the testicles Pigs are castrated if meant for slaughter Meat from boars may have an odor when cooking Takes testosterone out of the system, which makes meat tough
Castration Best time for castration is between 1 and 14 days Pigs are easier to restrain Bleed less from the surgery One person holds the pig by the back legs and the other person does the castrating Make small incisions Make sure to use some type of antiseptic spray
Castration
Castration
Castration
Castration
Parasites Coccidia Affects nursing pigs between days 5 and 15 Develop a yellowish, very fluid diarrhea Infected pigs do not respond well to antibiotic treatment Mortality rates will be moderate to high
Parasites Worms Doesn’t occur much in baby pigs Roundworms Nodular worms Whipworms Threadworms Stomach worms Lungworms Kidney worms Doesn’t occur much in baby pigs
Weaning Baby pigs are weaned at 21 days Put in a nursery for a few weeks Until pigs are 40 – 45 lbs Moved to other pens for growing and finishing